"Have you been spying on us?" demanded the fellow called Nolly.
"I've been spying on this man," answered Tom, pointing to the
other fellow. "He stole my brother's watch. What have you done
with it?"
"Never stole a watch in me life?" returned Buddy quickly.
"I say you did, and it will do no good to deny it."
"If you say I stole any watch I'll -- I'll knock yer down," cried
Buddy fiercely.
And he rushed at Tom and aimed a blow the boy's head with his
stick.
Nolly also ran forward with his sandbag; and seeing this, Tom
leaped back, and was soon making tracks as fast as his legs could
carry him.
The two men did not pursue him far. Instead, they turned and ran
in the opposite direction.
Tom hurried on until he came within sight of a large farmhouse.
Reaching the front door, he used the brass knocker vigorously.
Soon an upper window was raised, and the head of a middle-aged man
was thrust out.
"Who is there? "he demanded.
"I want help, sir," answered Tom. "I am a pupil at Putnam Hall,
and I have just spotted a fellow in this neighborhood who robbed
my brother of a gold watch."
"Is that so!"
"Oh, papa, is it one of the boys Grace and I were telling you
about?" came in the voice of Nellie Laning.
Pages:
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96